Gold Plating, Gold Vermeil & Solid Gold Jewellery: A Simple Guide
All of ShopGolden’s jewellery brands use quality materials, but knowing the difference between gold plating, gold vermeil and solid gold when shopping for jewellery will allow you to feel more confident and give you the knowledge to know what you’re buying when choosing pieces to suit your lifestyle.
Gold Plated
Gold-plated jewellery is made from a base metal, often brass, stainless steel or sometimes sterling silver, that’s coated with a thin layer of gold using an electroplating process. The gold bonds to the surface of the metal, giving the appearance of solid gold. The gold layer in gold-plated jewellery is measured in microns. Because this gold layer is delicate, it can gradually wear away over time.
The carat of gold used in plating affects colour, warmth and overall look, but not durability - it is the thickness of the plating that matters more for longevity. A lower carat gold plating contains more alloy metals, which changes the colour and can make it appear paler or cooler. For example, 24ct gold plating has a very rich, deep yellow tone, but because 24ct gold is pure, it’s softer and can wear more quickly, but it delivers the most luxurious colour. 14ct gold plating has a lighter, more subtle gold tone and is often chosen for a modern or understated look.
With regular wear, gold-plated jewellery may last months to a few years before showing signs of fading but removing jewellery before showering, exercising and applying skincare will extend its life.
Gold Vermeil
Gold vermeil uses a thicker layer of gold, compared to gold plating, which is applied to a sterling silver base. In many countries, including the UK, there are strict standards that ensure that the gold used is of high quality and a certain thickness, and jewellery can only be called vermeil if the gold layer is at least 2.5 microns thick.
Vermeil uses a sterling silver rather than brass or steel base, making it hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin. It is more valuable than standard gold-plated jewellery and less likely to cause irritation or discolouration.
Many pieces of gold vermeil jewellery are plated in 18 carat gold, as it offers a rich colour while remaining durable enough for everyday wear. Again, carat affects colour rather than longevity — the higher the carat, the warmer the gold colour.
The thickness is what gives vermeil its durability, and with proper care, gold vermeil can last several years, as the thick gold layer means it wears far more slowly than standard gold plating. Removing jewellery before showering, swimming, exercising or applying skincare will help preserve the gold finish.
Solid Gold
Solid gold jewellery is made entirely from gold alloyed with other metals for strength. Unlike plated or vermeil jewellery, there is no base layer or surface coating, and the gold runs all the way through the piece. This means the colour, value and material remain consistent for the lifetime of the jewellery.
Solid gold is alloyed with other materials because pure gold (24ct) is naturally very soft, so to make jewellery durable enough for everyday wear, gold is mixed (alloyed) with metals such as copper, silver or zinc to create strength while maintaining gold’s beauty. With solid gold, the higher carat means richer colour and higher gold content, but the lower carat gives increased strength and resistance to wear.
The carat directly affects gold content, colour, durability and price in solid gold jewellery. 24ct solid gold is 100% pure gold and is very soft with a deep yellow tone. It is rarely used for modern jewellery as it scratches and bends easily. 18ct solid gold is 75% gold is has a rich colour but is still durable and is popular for fine jewellery and heirloom pieces. 14 ct solid gold is 58.5% gold making it strong, practical and ideal for everyday wear. 9ct solid gold is 37.5% gold, and is the most durable and affordable solid gold option. It is paler in tone, but very hard-wearing.
Although solid gold has a higher upfront cost it does last a lifetime because the material is gold all the way through. It will not fade, flake or rub off, can be polished, resized and repaired. Scratches may appear with wear, but they can always be polished away.
For more detailed information about how to care for your jewellery, please see the specific product listing pages, or feel free to get in touch for further information info@shopgolden.co - we love to hear from you.
